Washington Commanders traded Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia acquired Dotson for relatively modest draft capital. They got a third-round pick and two seventh-round picks in the 2025 draft. Philadelphia also received a fifth-round pick.
Eagles New Offensive
Dotson’s addition significantly bolsters the Eagles’ receiving corps, potentially filling their need for a reliable third wide receiver.
The trade likely signals the Eagles’ intention to run more 3-WR sets under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Dotson’s ability to play both outside and in the slot (with 34.4% of his career snaps coming from the slot) gives the Eagles that flexibility in their new offensive scheme.
The Eagles’ projected offensive lineup now looks formidable, featuring Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dotson, and Dallas Goedert.
jahan Dotson Contract
At 24 years old, Dotson is still on his rookie contract. It runs through 2025 with a club option for 2026. This gives the Eagles a cost-controlled asset with potential for growth.
Commaders New Regime
Dotson showed flashes of potential in his rookie year with the Commanders. He caught 35 passes and led the team with seven touchdowns. This was despite missing five games. However, his 2023 season was considered disappointing, as he finished with 49 receptions for 518 yards and four touchdowns.
The arrival of general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn has brought changes to the Commanders’ roster evaluation process. Peters and Quinn are looking to build their version of the team, which put Dotson’s fit into question.
During the preseason, Dotson’s usage has raised eyebrows. In a preseason game against the Jets, he played 32 offensive snaps. This was significantly more than established receivers Terry McLaurin and Olamide Zaccheaus, who played 11 and 10 snaps respectively.
Dotson’s departure provides clarity to the Commanders’ wide receiver depth chart. It opens up opportunities for other receivers like Dyami Brown and rookie Luke McCaffrey to step into larger roles. The Commanders also signed Martavis Bryant last week. This potentially allows the team to better evaluate talent already on the roster.
BRANDON AIYUK TRADE SPECULATION
Dotson’s trade also has brought speculation that the Commanders could be a trade destination for Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk has missed most of training camp in a contract holdout with the 49ers. A new deal seems to be coming along slowly, if at all.
Brandon Aiyuk coming to Washington would give the team an obvious upgrade over Jahan Dotson. However, don’t expect Aiyuk to put up the same numbers in Washington because of the offensive downgrade in talent. On the flipside, Dotson is unprepared to be a WR1 in the NFL. Going to the Eagles gives Dotson in a position where he will make the most immediate impact, as a WR3.
